MANILA - A Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) district officer and an examiner were arrested in an entrapment operation on Friday afternoon.

Binondo Revenue District Officer Bethsheba Bautista and examiner Rachel Villanueva were caught receiving a bribe from operatives of the Presidential Anti Corruption Commission and the police's CIDG Major Crimes Investigation Unit (CIDG-MCIU).

“Kanina dineliver po namin ang pera ng aming ahente na tinanggap mismo ng RDO revenue district office,” PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica said.

“Sa pagbigay mismo ng pera, agad-agad umakyat ang mga tao natin doon. Nakuha mismo sa suspect ang boodle money na ginamit,” CIDG Deputy Director for Administration Chief Supt. John Luglug added.

According to PACC, the suspects allegedly asked for P2 million from a company to settle their tax liabilities, but said only P500,000 will be remitted to the government.

“'Aayusin na lang natin', 2 years na ini-issuehan sila ng tax liability. Para maayos na, P2 million ang kapalit, P500,000 ang reresibuhan, P1.5 million ang paghahati-hatian,” Belgica said.

PACC said they have operated in BIR three times but this is the first time they caught RDO officials.

“Hindi mo talaga mahuhuli ang RDO dahil mababang mga empleyado ang humaharap like examiners, supervisors tapos ang intrega na lang sa RDO,” Belgica explained.

Belgica said they have long wanted to eradicate corruption in the BIR by giving less powers to RDO examiners and supervisors.

“The most that you can do is tumawad, that’s why I’m saying there has to be systemic changes. That the powers of the examiners, the RDOs, the supervisors has to be cut and they will have no more power and discretion over assessment kumbaga, process has to be simplified, tax rates has to be simplified,” Belgica said.

The two suspects denied the accusations but declined to give any further comment.

They will be charged with direct bribery.